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Ralf\'s comments re: Williams

Does anyone here think that Ralf's criticism of Williams (re: not doing enough to keep JPM) might be the start of Ralf building his OWN case against Williams? For example, "Williams didn't try to keep JPM, and they didn't try to keep me either, and THAT'S why I am driving for Toyota in 2005."

If Frank won\'t pay a winning driver, what (long)

chance has Ralf. Of course I agree Williams are "destined to take the championship with the best engine" but that’s one of the problems! Frank believes that if he gives a driver the best car (best engine), then that driver should win the championship and if he does, he did so because he had the best equipment so there was little ‘driving talent’ involved. Look at the history...why have the championship winning drivers always moved on...because Frank won’t pay them the going rate. I’m sure his argument is that he pays them based on what he calculates their worth to be; believing that if he puts any driver, from say the top half of the grid, into his car, they would/could win the championship too.

I’m not saying the drivers are overpaid, those few that are paid by the team they drive for, but like every other sport where professional ‘athletes’ are involved, the amount they are paid and the amount that should be paid are miles apart…at least with motorspor, the guy is putting it on the line!

As for Ralf, I can’t see a good way for this to end; best case, the car’s on the pace right out of the box and he wins the championship... he’ll wants even more money that he’s looking for now and Frank isn’t going to pay it. Worst case, the car’s a dog and even if they develop it over the course of the season (like they did in 03) into something decent, Ralf is going to [Oops!] about it during the development and Williams are going to say he’s not getting the most out of it...he’ll still be looking for the kind of money that Frank is unwilling to pay him now with nothing 'new' to bring to the table.

Is Ralf putting to much fate into thinking that BMW wants a German driver...maybe he is, but I think Frank is looking at the drives market for 05 and saying to himself, why should I pay Ralf any more than I’m paying him now and maybe I can pay him less because, after all, where’s he going to go to get a drive half as good as the Williams? Ferrari are locked up as are McLaren, maybe Renault but only if they are looking to replace Jarno Trulli which is debatable at this point and will depend on how he performs this year.

The only thing working in Ralf favor is that Williams will not want to change both drivers at the same time, only time will tell...

Thanks, Interesting

Well Written In addittion

Maybe Williams brass knows something we don't.
LY Ralph took a bad wreck in testing in Italy (I think Imola) at the end of the season, and wasn't the same agressive driver, remember the 3rd driver drove for him in the next race and did very well (can't remember the drivers name)

Ralph is too finnicky, all the conditions including the planets need to be in perfect alignment for him to be competitive otherwise he is sulking.

If Ralph goes to Toyota, this will work against him for a PR move, the German fans won't support him, and if Ralph does sign with Toyota, he is a money grabber, and his career will really go backwards as a driver and spokesman.

Even when Ralph is competitive in a race, I still hold my breath that he doesn't spin out or some other brain lapse he comes up with.

I would like to see Jenson Button come back, I think he has grown up and ca communicate with the Williams crew.

Furthermore, Ralph comments about Montoya is just a smoke screen, Ralph and JPM never did get along and Ralph was always pouting.
Ralph figured when JPM was gone, there was more money available and Ralph was entitled to it for his "experience" Frank Williams sees it another way, back to earlier point that Ralph isn't 100% after the wreck in Italy.
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